The fishery of Cananéia (São Paulo, Brazil) is dominated by catches of the sea bob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri. The work was developed in the southern coast of São Paulo State, between 1998 and 1999 and included collecting production, capture effort and economic value data of the Xiphopenaeus kroyeri. Mean landings of shrimp in the municipal district of Cananéia have been approximately 728 tons/year. The trade categories are divided into gross shrimp (without selection on board), chosen shrimp (with selection), clean shrimp (with selection and posterior processing) and small shrimp (after selection of larger ones). Largest landings occurred in the first semester and the second semester was characterized by the largest production of chosen shrimp. The results suggest presented that the fishery is declining, and do not agree with the current period of closure. The analysis of the by-catch composition of artesanal fishery is necessary, in order to improve the fishing administration and the rational use of the resource.